Quitman Senior Awarded $25,000 College Scholarship
DALLAS – Abigail Dobbs was recently announced as the winner of the TGA Foundation’s 2019 Doris Kallina/’Nez Muhleman Scholarship, valued at $25,000 over a four-year period. Dobbs received $3,000 on April 11 in a late afternoon ceremony at The Links at Land’s End in Yantis, with the remainder of the scholarship to be paid out over the next three years.
The TGA Foundation received nearly 50 applications for the 2019 scholarship, which is named for Doris Kallina and ‘Nez Muhleman, two women who have given time and resources to promote women’s golf in Texas for many years.
A scholarship committee comprising of Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of TGA Foundation and Outreach, Victoria Uresti, Manager of TGA Foundation and Outreach Programs, and members of the TGA Women’s Committee carefully reviewed each application. The committee narrowed down the list to four and conducted in-depth interviews with the finalists. After much deliberation, the committee agreed on Dobbs as the recipient of the 2019 scholarship.
“I would really just like to thank everyone that was involved in the selection process,” said Abigail Dobbs. “It really means so much to me that you all picked me for this scholarship, so thank you so much! This TGA Foundation scholarship has really changed my life.”
A June graduate of Quitman High School in Quitman, located about 30 miles north of Tyler in Wood County, Dobbs ranked first in her class with a 4.18 GPA and earned an astonishing full year’s worth of college credits through the school’s Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Dobbs plans to use the scholarship money to attend Texas A&M University in College Station this fall.
The Links at Land’s End was an inspired choice to hold the ceremony because one, it’s a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Fork and two, it’s the home course for the Quitman High’s Girls Golf Team.
Dobbs grew up around golf. Her father David, who is the Mayor of Quitman, is a lifelong avid golfer and introduced her to the game. It’s only been since 9th grade, though, that Dobbs began to take the game seriously. Like most things she’s taken on, Dobbs proved to be a quick learner. She was named Most Improved Player as a freshman, and then MVP the next two years. Her evolving golf skills played an instrumental role in helping the Lady Bulldogs advance to the UIL Regional Tournament from 2017-19.
Dobbs also played junior varsity and then varsity volleyball and basketball, and has been a member of the varsity Cheerleading squad for the past three years.
In addition to her athletic and academic prowess, Dobbs has been active in extracurricular school activities, serving on the Quitman High Student Council, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, among much else.
Despite having a schedule that would exhaust most people, Dobbs manages to work part-time at the Speakeasy Coffee House and as an intern with the Quitman Animal Clinic. While she may be an ace behind the espresso machine, it is her love of animals that has influenced her future career path.
“I have wanted to be a vet for as long as I can remember,” said Dobbs. “I’m going to major in Animal Science and minor in Business at Texas A&M.”
After graduation, Dobbs won’t be running just any old veterinary clinic, though.
“I have plans to start a small business that I will call The Chocolate Bark,” said Dobbs. “I will have my veterinary practice on one side of the building and on the other side, completely separate but adjacent, will be a small bakery. When the owner comes in with the patient, instead of sitting in a boring waiting room, they can walk next door to the bakery and grab a treat for themselves and/or their pet. I know it may seem silly to some people now, but that’s just because they haven’t seen it yet.”
Golf will be on the back burner for a while, but it’s not entirely out of the picture.
“I have decided not to play golf competitively in college, so that I can focus on making good grades,” said Dobbs. “That is going to take up all my time and effort, because Texas A&M has one of the toughest Vet Schools in the country. I do expect to play some recreational golf with friends and family, when I get the chance to do so.”
The future critters of Texas (or wherever Dobbs eventually decides to hang her shingle) are sure to be in good hands.